Appeal Court affirms Okpebholo’s election as Edo governor, dismisses PDP’s petition

The Court of Appeal in Abuja has upheld the election of Senator Monday Okpebholo as the duly elected Governor of Edo State, affirming the validity of the September 24, 2024 gubernatorial election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Delivering judgment on Thursday, Justice Mohammed Danjuma, who led the appellate panel, dismissed the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo, ruling that the appeal lacked merit.

“The appellant failed to provide convincing evidence to overturn the decision of the electoral body. The appeal is without merit and is hereby dismissed in its entirety,” Justice Danjuma stated in the judgment.

The court held that the election was properly conducted in accordance with the Electoral Act and that Senator Okpebholo was validly returned and declared the winner by INEC.

Following the September 2024 gubernatorial election in Edo State, INEC declared Senator Monday Okpebholo, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the winner of the closely contested poll.

Dissatisfied with the outcome, the PDP and its candidate, Asue Ighodalo, filed a petition challenging the conduct and result of the election. They alleged irregularities and called for the nullification of Okpebholo’s victory.

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However, the Court of Appeal, in its ruling, found that the petitioners failed to substantiate their claims with credible evidence, reinforcing the legality of INEC’s process and outcome.

Thursday’s ruling is a significant legal victory for the APC and Governor Okpebholo, whose election has now been affirmed by both the electoral commission and the judiciary.

Reacting to the judgment, supporters of the governor hailed the decision as a vindication of the people’s mandate and a boost to democratic stability in Edo State.

With the appeal now settled, Governor Okpebholo is expected to focus fully on the implementation of his administration’s policies and development agenda without the distraction of prolonged legal battles.